The Dark Triad at Work: A Transactional Analysis Perspective
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About the Program
Why do some leaders leave behind a trail of disengagement, fear, and dysfunctional workplaces, even while being seen as charismatic, competent, or successful?
Contemporary leadership research has identified the Dark Triad—Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy—as three personality tendencies that can significantly influence leadership behaviour and organizational outcomes. While these concepts are widely discussed in organizational psychology and leadership research, they are less frequently explored through the lens of Transactional Analysis (TA).
In this 90-minute interactive session, we will introduce the Dark Triad and explore how TA provides a powerful framework for understanding not just who these leaders are, but how their behaviour unfolds in relationships and organizations.
Together, we will explore questions such as:
- Why are individuals with dark traits often perceived as effective leaders, at least initially?
- How do destructive leadership patterns become normalized within teams?
- Which transactional patterns, games, and relational dynamics sustain toxic leadership?
- How can TA help leaders, coaches, HR professionals, and consultants recognize and interrupt these patterns before they become part of organizational culture?
Rather than viewing destructive leadership purely as an individual personality issue, this session examines it as a dynamic process co-created through repeated transactions, organizational systems, and interpersonal patterns.
The session is intended for TA practitioners, leaders, managers, coaches, HR professionals, and anyone interested in applying Transactional Analysis to contemporary organizational challenges.
Facilitator
Tanvi Mankodi
Dr. Tanvi Mankodi is a faculty member in Organizational Behaviour and Leadership Studies at SPJIMR, Mumbai. She teaches and conducts research in the areas of leadership, organizational behaviour, workplace dynamics, emotional intelligence, and people management. At SPJIMR, she teaches MBA students, mentors doctoral scholars, and works with senior leaders across industries through executive education and leadership development programs. She has a PhD in Management from IIM Ahmedabad where her research focused on workplace incivility and organisation commitment.
Her research examines dark leadership, workplace relationships, and organizational behaviour, with a particular interest in the dynamics that shape healthy and unhealthy workplaces. She has designed and facilitated leadership programs for organizations across the public and private sectors on themes including leadership effectiveness, collaboration, emotional intelligence, influence without authority, managing change, and difficult workplace conversations.